Long Life Light Bulbs vs LED

Ordinary long
life light bulbs last around 1,500
hours. A standard light bulb with 700 hours lasts half as long. LED
light bulbs estimated to last between 50,000-100,000 hours.

Conventional
long life light bulbs

These have multiple filaments. So if one burns out or
is chocked and broken, there are few more there to take its place.
Also, they are filled with krypton gas instead of argon.They usually
come in 150, 135, 100, 75 Watt versions. The bulb (or globe) can be
frosted or can have a silicone coating which makes it less likely to
break.

As to their life time, some are said to last even 2,000-3,000
hours. I'de be cautious and err on the safe side with my expectations.
For the price you might pay for them (obviously cost more then
incandescents) if they'll last 1,500 is good already.

LEDs are widely considered
to be unbeatable in the lifetime department, but they are not
the type of lights we usually think as "long life light bulbs." Plus I
don't want to be accused of being unfair to other type of lights that
already have a proven track record.

New types other than LED

Compact fluorescents
lights (CFL) and halogen
lights

You
should expect a much longer
life from halogen low voltage lights (12 Volt) and high voltage compact
fluorescent ligh bulbs (120-220 Volt - in some countries 240V.)
Actually...

CFL

... I often find compact
fuorescent light bulbs (even lamps)
being advertised as long life light bulbs. Some last 10,000 hours -
some don't. They are also known to be sensitive to grease deposit from
you fingers. (A lesser known fact.) This will certainly cut its life
short.

Halogen

Before
the recent appearance of
long life fluorescent lights, your best chance to get to long life
lighting were halogen
light bulbs. They are built so as to last longer
than the conventional incandesect light bulb.

However, operating
temperatures and manufacturing faults limit the life of halogen bulbs.
And they burn out without warning - often much earlier than you expect
them.

Not to mention that they are incredibly
sensitive to the slightest
(and I do mean the slightest) grease deposit from you fingers, so they
need to be handled very carefully.

LED
light bulbs and long life

When
you add the brightness factor, light bulbs that are blanket advertised
as long life light bulbs pale in comparison with LED light bulbs.

Another beauty
of LEDs here is that don't
burn out without warning.
Did you have to change that tiny led (you know -
the green or red thingy that gives off that soft glow and sometimes
blinks) on your computer? Bright leds are replacing our old "
bulbs and co.
" lights and they are no different. Sure enough most led light reviews
confirm that on average there is no need to replace them for about 6
years and up to 11 years.

This means that if a bright LED is properly
fixed and run (no abuse, no huge power surges) and is without
manufacturing faults, it could be switched on for 11 years non-stop.

So what's the
secret for LEDs long life?

The
secret of LEDs long life lie in their sturdy construction. What's more,
the
way each tiny unit is built makes them ideal for all kinds of
wear and tear.

Of course, if you run it from a battery, then the limit is the battery
lifetime. Still, a LED light running from a
near dying battery won't fade. They will just drain less power,
but give the same soft ambient light.

Long
life versus color in LEDs

Most current white LEDs
will last up to
50,000 hours, about 50 times as
long as a 60-watt bulb. That's almost six years full on.

Very
often, a LED lasts
depending on the color you choose. (Based on current product indicators
I would count 100,000 hours for red and yellow colors. And for green,
blue and white count half as much to be safe - use the 50,000-hour
mark.)